Northern ireland and ireland

With the local elections just over a week away, we're asking candidates standing for a seat on the Royal Borough council to submit biographies about themselves so you can know a little bit more about them. We are aiming to put up profiles for as many candidates as possible, and more will be added to this page as they come in. If you are standing in the elections on Thursday, May 2 and would like your biography included in our coverage, please email a submission of about 75-100 words along with a headshot of yourself to [email protected] in a similar style to the ones below. Please note: These biographies have come directly from the candidates and were not written by our staff. Style, content and grammar may vary, while any views expressed in the biographies do not represent those of the Advertiser or Express. Ascot and Sunninghill Tamasin Barnbrook (Liberal Democrats) I live in Sunninghill and have lived in our area for 10 years since moving here from London with my … [Read more...] about LOCAL ELECTIONS 2019: Candidate profiles for the Royal Borough

Immigration proposals could prove disastrous for Northern Ireland industry: warning BelfastTelegraph.co.uk Government proposals for a post-Brexit immigration system for the UK are a "massive blow" to most sectors in Northern Ireland, it's been claimed. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/immigration-proposals-could-prove-disastrous-for-northern-ireland-industry-warning-37642976.html https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/article37643592.ece/ab49c/AUTOCROP/h342/7_Danske_Banks_Ang.jpg Email Government proposals for a post-Brexit immigration system for the UK are a "massive blow" to most sectors in Northern Ireland, it's been claimed. The Government's White Paper sets out plans for a future "skills-based immigration system", which Home Secretary Sajid Javid said would maximise the benefits of immigration while ending the free movement of EU citizens. Key measures include that "everyone will be required to obtain a permission if they want to come to the UK … [Read more...] about Immigration proposals could prove disastrous for Northern Ireland industry: warning

Northern Ireland house price rises to continue as market stays strongest in UK BelfastTelegraph.co.uk Northern Ireland's housing market remains the strongest performing among UK regions, with house prices predicted to keep increasing. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-house-price-rises-to-continue-as-market-stays-strongest-in-uk-37621075.html https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/northern-ireland/article37621074.ece/6330e/AUTOCROP/h342/2018-12-13_bus_46484560_I1.JPG Email Northern Ireland's housing market remains the strongest performing among UK regions, with house prices predicted to keep increasing. Property prices fell across Great Britain for a third successive month in November, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Ulster Bank Residential Market Survey. But Northern Ireland defied the trend, with 39% more respondents reporting an increase in the value of their home. RICS residential … [Read more...] about Northern Ireland house price rises to continue as market stays strongest in UK

THE Northern Ireland economy continues to face a number of headwinds. The Executive and Assembly have been absent for almost two years. Prices are still rising faster than the Bank of England's target rate. And Brexit is getting closer and closer. The latest Danske Bank Northern Ireland Consumer Confidence Index revealed that in the third quarter of this year, these were the big issues causing concern to local people.Consumer confidence indices are produced in countries all over the world and they give an estimate of how optimistic, or pessimistic, people are feeling. In advanced economies, like Northern Ireland and the wider UK, consumer spending typically makes up the majority of GDP. When consumer confidence is high, you would normally expect to see consumer spending in the economy growing relatively quickly. And this can often contribute to healthy rates of overall economic growth. Our recent study covered the third quarter of this year and showed that consumer confidence in … [Read more...] about Political uncertainty, inflation and Brexit dent consumer confidence

Northern Ireland’s latest batch of pregnancy statistics shows the lowest rate of teenage pregnancies on record. 2017 saw the number of births to teenage mothers fall to 692 – less than half the number that was recorded a decade previously (1,405) and 65% fewer than three decades ago (2,008).The statistics are from the 96th Annual Report of the Registrar General for Northern Ireland, and are published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)The average age of first-time mums has continued to increase, up from 25 years in 1987 to 28.7 years in 2017.The average age of all mums has similarly risen, from 27.6 years to 30.8 years over the last three decades.Of the 23,075 births registered in 2017, 23% were to mums aged 35 and over.The report also looked at marriage, too.Both men and women are waiting on average six years longer to tie the knot compared to 30 years ago, with the average ages of first-time brides and grooms now being 30 and 32 years … [Read more...] about Older mothers and older spouses as NI’s population climbs towards 1.9m